Pacific Talanoa Strengthens NGO Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Stewardship

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) co-convened the inaugural Pacific Tourism and NGO Forum from 3rd – 5th December 2025 in Suva, Fiji. This regional Talanoa brought together environmental NGOs, Community-based organisations, government agencies, tourism sector representatives, and partners to establish a collaborative framework for advancing sustainable tourism across the Pacific.

The key goal of the Forum is to empower NGOs and community-based organisations as critical partners in implementing sustainable tourism initiatives, bridging the gap between regional and national policies and strategies and community-level action, strengthening the environmental performance of Pacific tourism businesses. Through mapping existing NGO initiatives, building awareness of national and regional environmental frameworks, and identifying practical pathways for collaboration, the Forum seeks to establish a network for ongoing information sharing and empower NGOs as local advocates and technical experts working directly with community tourism businesses in advancing sustainability efforts..

In opening the three-day workshop, SPREP Director of Biodiversity Conservation, Dr. Amenatave Yauvoli, underscored the importance of technical tools and guidelines in supporting tourism sustainability. He highlighted the role of Regional Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) guidelines and Coastal Tourism EIA Guidelines in screening tourism proposals for environmental and social risks, ensuring early checks on reef health, waste systems, and community impacts. Environmental audits for tourist accommodation were presented as practical checklists to improve energy, water, waste, and biodiversity outcomes, enabling tourist accommodations to benchmark and enhance their sustainability performance.

Dr Yauvoli also emphasised SPREP’s biodiversity conservation work, which safeguards marine and terrestrial ecosystems underpinning visitor experiences. The Responsible Marine Wildlife Viewing Guidelines were cited as examples of tools for protecting species such as spinner dolphins in Lomaiviti and manta rays in Kadavu, ensuring encounters remain safe and sustainable. He further highlighted SPREP’s plastics reduction initiative through the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), which supports tourism operators to phase out single-use plastics by introducing refill stations, eliminating plastic straws, and providing technical guidance for sustainable alternatives.

In his remarks, SPTO Chief Executive Officer Christopher Cocker welcomed the strong participation of NGOs and acknowledged the Fiji Ministry of Environment for joining the dialogue. He emphasised the value of SPTO’s Memorandum of Understanding with SPREP, which has enabled joint initiatives that promote and support better practice.

Mr Cocker stressed that the Forum directly supports Goal 4 of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework on Healthy Islands and Oceans and aligns with SPTO’s Strategic Plan 2025–2029 focus on Sustainable Destination Management. He reiterated SPTO’s commitment to inclusive tourism development, recognizing NGOs as the “eyes and ears, hands and feet” of governments and international development partners in communities. Their role in safeguarding culture, heritage, and natural resources is essential to ensuring tourism contributes to prosperity and resilience.

The three-day Forum marks the beginning of a strengthened partnership between regional institutions, governments, private sector and NGOs. It sets the foundation for a robust platform for regional engagement across member countries. SPTO’s evolving governance structure, which now

recognises the role of Non-State Actors in its Membership Platform, further demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to inclusive and participatory tourism development.

The Pacific Tourism and NGO Forum has established a clear pathway for further strategic engagement between the tourism sector and NGOs. The Forum was made possible by the generous support of the SPREP ACP EU MEA 3 Initiative and the Australian Government funded Pacific Ocean Litter Project as well as SPTO